Improvement in under-garments



S. '1. CONVERSE.

UNDERGARMEN'IS. No. 189,609. Patented April 17. 1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUSAN 'L'GONVERSE, OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN UNDER-GARMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,609, dated April 17, 1877 application filed December 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SUSAN TAYLOR GON- VERSE, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Under Garment, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram, showing the pattern for my improved garment as made for women. Figs. 2 and 3 are front and back views of the finished garment as made for women. The other figures show details.

My improved garment consists of a front piece, A, and a back piece, B, joined together at the sides, these pieces being provided with gores 1 2 3 4, as shown in the drawings; and the main feature of my invention consists in an under-garment formed of these front and back pieces, provided with these gores.

The front and back pieces may be cut from one strip of the material, as shown in Fig. 1, or may be made separately and joined together over the shoulders, as well as along the sides. I prefer to take a long strip and double it along the line a b of Fig. 1, and then cut it out. I

1 am aware, of course, that it is not unusual to shape corsets and other garments by cutting out one or more lenticular pieces, like those marked 3 and 4,'and joining the edges together; and this mode of shaping garments is not my invention, which is limited to a garment formed of the two parts A and B, each of which is formed of sheet material, as described, and each of which has two of these lenticular pieces removed, one on each side of the middle line; that is to say, this part of my invention is a new garment, the novelty consisting in the fact that it is made of but two parts, A and B, each shaped as shown.

My garments are made, usually, of knit fabrics, such as are usually used for undergarments worn next the skin, but can, of course, be made of any suitable material.

The gores 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as the armscyes and the curves 5 and 6, and the space 7 for the neck, may be formed on the knitting-machines, and when suitable improvements in such knitting-machines (now contemplated) shall be perfected, this will be by far the most economical way known to me. These gores 1, 2, 3, and 4 may have their edges joined together by sewing, or by the knitting-machines. As now made, the lenticular pieces 1 2 3 4., Fig. 1, are cut out, and the two sides are sewed together. I prefer to back the seam with a piece of tape, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3-, for greater strength, and also in order that buttons may be more securely attached, if desired. The opening for allowing the garment to be put on and taken ofi is shown as is usual, but may be behind or in front, or otherwise, as desired, and when the drawers-legs are attached to the garment I prefer to make the garment wholly open in front.

When these under-garments are designed for women, proper breast-pieces should be inserted and the second part of my invention consists in the combination of breast-pieces 'of a new construction with under-garments for women, whether made as above described, or such as are usually made. The front part of the garment is formed with two circular openings, 8 and 9, and the semi-spherical pieces O are inserted. The garment thus made gives great freedom to the breasts, and all gathering and puckering is rendered unnecessary. I prefer to form these breast-pieces by knitting.

The main feature of this part of my invention consists in the new and peculiar construction ofthe breast-pieces, which are semispherical in shape, and formed in a manner entirely new in the construction of undergarments, and are perfectly adapted as acovering for the breasts without being gathered or fulled in, as is almost invariably the case with under-garments for women.

When sleeves are used with my improved garment, I prefer to cut them as shown in the drawings, which will be plain to all skilled persons without further description.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The under-garment composed of the two spherical pieces 0 inserted in such openings, parts A and B, shaped as described, and proas described.

vided with the openingsl 2 3 4 7 8 and 9 of the form shown, substhntiazllg; as 21nd fOI SUSAN TAYLOR CONVERSE the purpose set forth. Witnesses:

2. An under-garment formed with the cir- J. E. MAYNADIEB, cular openings 8 and 9, and having the semi- GEO. O. G. OOATES. 

